Safety device for tanks



W. G. CARRUTH.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR TANKS. APPLICATION HLED DEc.6,1918. RE'NEwED AUG. 9.1920.

1,372,063, Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

v L 49 I" 4J Z el 26 l;

W. (i. CARR'UTH.-

SAFETY DEVICE FOR TANKS. APPLICATION man 9296,1918. RENEwgn Aus.'9.1192o.

mi, LS (1MM/mensa WILLIAM G. CARRUTH, or BROOKLYN, New YORK.y

SAFETY DEVICE FOR TANKS.

Specification of Letters `Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed December 6, 1918, SerialNo. 265,590. Renewed August 9, 1920. SerialNo. 402,504.

To all whom it 'may conce/m.'

lie it known that I, 'Willman G. (,ARRUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county olf Kings and State ot New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Safety Devices for Tanks, oi which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices 'for tanks, and has particular relation to devices operative in connection with supply tanks for motor vehicles The present invention is of the type d1s closed in rny companion application filed April 25, i918, Serial No. 230,852, in which the mechanism is designed to serve as an anti-theft structure for the contents oi the tank, in that the normal means oi access to the tank are closed and locked, as well as a structure by means oi which theft oi' the inotor vehicle itseli? is prevented through provenling` supply oi fuel to the motor. `The structure disclosed in said companion apple cation. is designed more paitieularlyto take care ot conditions where the niovei'nent of the tank contents is under the general systems of operation, such pressure and gravity feed. y

The purpose et the present invention is to amplify the control features oi' said prior aindication in several respects: (a) by not only controlling the fuel supply line and the iilling opening ol` the tank, but in addition providing control ot thetank drainage open ing; (Il) extending the safety factors oi the companion application to systems operating under the vacuum type or system of 'fuel transiter: (c to amplify the latter type or system to reduce the possibilityv olf thei't oi? the machine by providing drainage action to the excess fuel in the system provided by the normal operation ot the latter, thus re- .flueing the amount oi? i'ree fuel to a mini mum: and (d) to amplify the safety factors oil2 this type to include the lilling and drain age openings oi" the tank as well as the fuel supply and drainage lines 'for the system.

To these and other ends, the nature ot which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination oi parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclailns.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in cach oi' the views;-

Figure l is a sectional. view of a portion ot a fuel supply tank, showing my present invention applied thereto, the latter being shown partly in section and partly in elevation. i

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mechanism of the invention in a different position.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view oi portions ot a motor vehicle, showing the manner in which a well-known type oit' vacuum system is installed, the View indicating the drainage connections for the system.`

i Fig. Il is a sectional view of the 'vacuum tank of such system.

As heretofore pointed out, the present invention is more or less anamplification oi the invention of the companion application und in illustrating the present invention l have shown it as employing niany oithe features o'l' the structure ol' the companion application. For convenience in compari son l have shown in the present disclosure views corresponding more or less @o those ot the prior application, and far as possible, the reference characters el? similar parts are the same in both disclosures. Before giving a `detail description ot' I the changes, l will briefly describe the structure common in both inventions in the particular form illustrating the principles ol the inventions. ,y

.Referring to lTig-s. 'l and 2, i() indicates a sugjiply tank 'for the liquid fuel, the top and bottom walls being lindicated `respectively at 10 and 10b. il indicates the threaded flange dependingfrom wall 10 ot the filling opening ot' the tank, 'lil indicating the removable closure therefor having the threaded ange l2, the latter carrying opening 12b at the `proper location, this opening being adapted to register with a similar opening formed in flange 11 when the closure is properly seated.

18 indicates a hollow barrel or casing :forming a part of the supporting structure for the operating mechanism of the safety device, this structure being preferably secured to the under Aface of wall 101. The lower end ofbarrel 18 is shown as provided with a cap 18a. Mounted within the barrel is a stem 15, the lower vend of which projects through cap 181.

YStem 15 is secured to a guide and control member 19, as by a threaded connection.

VMember 19 is Vshown as provided with a lgroove 20, a section 21 above the groove having an inclined face 21a, and a pin 22 above portion 21, said pin extending through Wall 10a.

23 indicates a locking bolt mounted in an offset 181 of the barrel, the bolt having a lateral projection 23L and a lug 23, the latter being adapted to cooperate with groove 2O to lock the stem in an inward position against the tension of a spring 2T mounted on stem l5 between member 19 and cap 15in. Bolt 23 is adapted to reciprocate in the offset, the movement in one direction being by a spring 21, and in the opposite direction by the actuating member 26 of 'Li-locking structure 26, the latter being shown as of the well-known Yale type, the escutcheon being shown as exposed on the outer face of wall 1()EL to permit' key accessibility. Projection 23a extends into the path of movement of actuating member 25, so that when the latter is moved by the key, bolt 23 will be moved against the action of spring,- 24,; as the parts 231 and 261 have no direct connection, the position of bolt 23 will determin the question of activity of member 26a in the operation of the safety mechanism. As'shown, lug 231 serves as a barrier against movement of stem 15 only when the lug is seated in groove 2O (Fig. 1), and in 'this position' member 26L becomes active in the operation of the mechanism; when, however, stem 15 is in a differentposition, as for instance shown in Fig.. 2, lug 231 simply bears on the surface of member 19 so that stem 15 is free to be moved in the direction of its length, lng 231 simply changing its position as its face rides over the surface of member 19. Hence, the use of a key is required only when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The normal position of stem 15 is shown in Fig. 2, thisV being 'the position of the parts when the vehicle is free to be operated. In this position pin 22 projects above the plane of wall 10a. To shift the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1, it is necessary only to depress pin 22 manually or otherwise, thus bringing'groove 20'and lug 231 into alinement and permitting the lug to enter the groove and lock the parts in this position. By actuation of member 26 bolt 23 will be;withdrawn, spring 27 then returning ythestem to the position of Fig. 2.

The means for locking closure 12 to its seat is shown as similar to that of the companion application, locking bolt 29 being movable into opening 121 in flange 12"1 by the action of face 21a as pin 22 is depressed, this movement beingin opposition to spring when the stem shifts to the position of Fig. 2, the movement of face 21 permits spring 32 to retract bolt 29 thus releasing the closure which can then be unthremled ilI desired.

One of the improvements provided by the present invention is that of also controlling the movements of the drainage closure for the tank, this closure being shown at lO and carrried by wall 101. The closure is provided vith a recess or cut-away portion 10 which, when the closure is threaded to its seat, is aiined with a recess or slot l1 of llange 11 to which the closure is threaded.

liince the contents of the tank may be rcnioved by the removal of closure l0, this possibility of theft is eliminated by locking' the closure through the movements of stem 15, this being' provided by the use of a bellcrank lever 12, pivotally supported by a bracket 13 carried b y barrel 1S, one arm" i12a-of lever being operatively connected to an exposed portion of stem if, the other arm 121 of the lever extending` in such direction and beinjY so positioned that when the stein is depressed, as in Fig". l, arm 121 will extend into recess l-llf. thus preventing rotation of the closure, during such time as the stem may be in this position7 movements of the stem rockingv lever l2 on its pivot and shifting; a rin Ai721 ont of operative relation to recess 1U, enablingl the closure lo be nnthreaded if desired.

fis will be understood this safety feature `can be readily employed in connection with the disclosure of the eoml'ianion appli-- cation.

)ne of the essential dillierenees of ille present invention lies in its use in connection with systems of lluid feed operating` under vacuum conditions, an operation in which the contents of the. supply tank are withdrawn by vacuum action. For purposes of illustration, a well-known form ol' such apparatus is shown in li'iggs. l and 'l.

.ln this particular form the vacuum is provided by the inspirating action olf the. motor made effective within a ehan'iber H11 of a tank del, said chamber having; communication with the interior of the supply tank through a suitable'connection. shown in Fig. i as in the form of a pipe. 45. the. latter entering' tank 10 and having a tube 41511 projecting downwardly therein to a point adjacent the bottom of tank 10. Suitable control mechanism is employed in tank .l-l by means of which the inspiratinr,- action of the motor acts to draw fuel contents into chamber 11a through pipe, 4-5 by the production of a vacuum in said chamber. the vacuum being broken by the action of the control mechanism breaking of the vacuum permitting contents of chamber 44 to pass through a valved opening44) into a reservoir chamber 44c which, in turn, has an outlet 44d leading to the carbureter.

The present invention, to meet the change in the form of the discharge outlet from tank 10 from that disclosed in the companion application, is arranged so that control valve 46 has its seating movement in an upward direction,the valve being carried by a lever 47 mounted on a bracket 48, one end of lever 47 carrying the valvepreferably yieldably-the opposite end of the lever being operatively connected to stem 15, thus translating the downward movement of the stem to an upward movement of the valve and vice versa, proper seating being insured tlirough the yielding support of the valve. Hence, when stem l5 is depressed to provide the locking action to closures l2 and 40, it will also move valve 4G to its seat closing the fuel outlet to the tankwhich may be considered as the fuel entrance to the fuel line leading to the carbureteipreventing further delivery of fuel to the .fuel line even though an inspirating action be provided by cranking the motor.

Another safety feature for providing against theft of the vehicle when the vacuum system is employed, is provided by removal of the contents of reservoir 44, this reservoir, during the ordinary operation of the system referred to collecting an excess supply of fuel, this excess insuring a fuel supply for the carburetor for an extended period. The presence of this fuel obviously permits operation of the motor for a considerable period even if valve 46 be closed, and to prevent this provision is made' for draining this reservoir when it is desired to place the safety system in operation.

This drainage feature is provided by the use of a separate line 49 leading from the top of tank l() to a point inthe connections leading to the carbureter from reservoir 44,

, these connections having a T-ccupling to which line 49 secured. The tank end of line 49 is provided with a valve seat with which cooperates a valve 50`-preferably yieldably-carried at the upper end of a Yalve supporting member 51 operatively connected to the stem l5, the connection, for convenience, being shown as provided by connecting member 5l to arm 42a. thus imparting a downward or unseating 1novenient to valve 50 when stem l5 is moved downwardly. Obviously, this connection may be provided otherwise. Member 5l may be guided in its movements in any suitable manner, the drawings indicating a bracket 52.

As will be understood, valve 50 is seated when valve 46 is moved from its seat, this being necessary in order that the drainage line 49 will be closed while the motor is in operation to prevent drainage action when the reserve in reservoir 44C is essential. When, however, it is desired to apply the safety mechanism, the positions of valves 46 and 50 are reversed, closing the supply outlet from tank l0 and opening the drainage line to this tank, so that the contents of the reservoir may be returned to tank l() and thus not only prevent the contents from being removed but also from being' used as a means for moving the motor vehicle to any material extent, the immediate supply for the carbureter available for the succeeding operation being contained in the carbureter line below the T-connection.

Obviously, this drainage feature may be omitted if desired.

lVhile I have herein shown and described ways in which the present invention may be practised, it will be readily understood that variations and modifications thereof may be found necessary or desirable in meeting the various exigencias of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found essential or desirable, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as `expressed in the accompanying claims when broadly construed. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

l. In safety devices for tanks, the combination with a 'tank having filling and drainage openings and a contents delivery outlet. and independent removable closures for the filling and drainage openings, of means within the tank for concurrently closing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement. y

Q. ln safety devices for tanks, the combination with a tank having filling and drainage openings and a contents delivery outlet, said filling and drainage openings being located inopposite walls ofthe tank, and independent removable closures for the filling and drainage openings, of means within the tank for concurrently closing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement.

3. In safety devices for tanks, the conn bination with a tank having filling and drainage openings and a contents delivery outlet, and independent removableclosures for the filling and drainage openings, of means within the tank for concurrently clos ing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a reciprocating element movable in one direction to provide such closing and locking activity.

4. In safety devices for tanks, the combif nation with a tank having filling and drain age openings and a contents delivery outlet,

and independent removable closures for the filling andy drainage openings, of means Within the tank for concurrently closing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a reciprocating element movable in one direction to provide such closing and locking activity, and control mechanism rendered active by said movement to retain such activity.

5. In safety devices Afor tanks, the combination with a tank having filling and drainage openings and a contents delivery outlet, and independent removable closures tor the filling and drainage openings, of means Within the tank for concurrently closing the voutlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a Vreciprocating element movable in one direction to provide such closing and locking activity, and control mechanism rendered active by said movement to retain such activity, said mechanism including a releasing structure operative when said element is in such position. Y Y

6. In safety devices for tanks, the combination with a tank having lilling and drainage openings and a contents delivery eut-let,

and independent removable closures for the filling and drainage Y openings, ot means Within the tank tor concurrently closing the Voutlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a reciprocating element movable in one direc-- tion to provide such closing and locking ac tivity, and control mechanism rendered active by said movement to retain such activity, said mechanism including a releasing structure operative solely when said element is in such position.

Tin safety devices for tanks, the combination with a-tank having iilling and drainage. openings and-a contents delivery outlet, and independent removable closures for the filling and drainage openings, oi means Within the tank'ior concurrently closing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a reciprocating element movable in one direction to provide such closing and locking activity,V and control mechanism rendered active by such movement to retain such activity, said mechanism including a key-actuated releasing Vstructure operative solely ivhen said element is in such position.

J8. ln safety devices 'for tanks, the combination with a tank having filling and drainage openingspand a contents delivery outlet, said filling and drainage openings being located in opposite Walls of the tank, and independent removable closures for the iilling and drainage openings, of means Within the tank for concurrently closing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a reciprocating element movable in one direction to provide such closing and locking activity and a lever operatively connected to said element and movable into and out of engagement ivith the drainage opening closure by element movements.

9. ln safety devices tor tanks, the combination with a tank having iilling and drainage openings and a contents delivery outlet, said lilling and drainage openings being located in opposite Walls et the tank, and independent removable closures tor the filling and drainage openings, o'i means Within the tank ttor concurrently closingthe outlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a reciprocatiug:` element movable in one direction to provide such closing` and locking activity and a pivoted bell-crank lever having` one arm operatively connected to said element and another arm active in locking the drainage opening closure.

l0. ln safety devices lfor tanks, the combination with a tank having lilling` and drainage openings and a contents delivery outlet, said iilling and drainage openings being located in opposite Walls et' the tank, and in` dependent removable closures lor the llling and drainage openings, of moans ivithin the tank for concurrently closing the outlet and locking said closures against opening movement, said means including a casing, a reciprocating element movable therein to provide such closing' and locking activity. a bracket carried by the casing, and a pivoted bell-crank lever carried by said bracket and adapted to control the locking ot said drain{re-opening closure, said lever being operatively connected to said clement.

ll. 'rn safety devices ior tanks wherein the Withdrawal of contents is provided b v vacuum action, the combination with a tank having an outlet in communication with the vacuum-creating mechanism, ot a yieldable valve Within the tank 'for controllingsaid outlet, and means Within the tank 'for coutrolling tlie position of said valve, said means including a reciprocating element. and a pivoted lever carrying said valve and operatively connected to said element.

l2. ln safety devices for tanks ivhereiu the Withdrawal of contents is provided b v vacuum action, the combination with a tank having an outlet in communication with the. vacuum-creating mechanism, of a yieldablc valve Within the tank 'for controlling said outlet, and means Within the tank tor controlling the position o'l said valve, said means including a reciprocating element, said valve and element being out ot axial alinement, and a pivoted lever carrying said valve and operatively connected to said element.

13. ln safety devices for tanks wherein the Withdrawal of contents is provided by vacuum action, the combination with a tank havingan outlet in communication with the vacuum-creating mechanism, of a yieldable valve within the tank for controlling said outlet, and means within,` the tank for controlling the position of said valve, said means including a reciprocating element, and mechanism whereby the movement of said element in one diiection will `move the valve in an opposite directionto close the outlet.

la. In safety devices 'for tanks wherein the withdrawal of contents is provided by vacuum action, the combination with a tank having an outlet in communication with the facuum-creating mechanism, ot a yieldable valve within the tank for controlling the outlet, and means within the tank for controlling the position ot said valve, said means including a casing Within the tank, a reciprocating element movable therein, a bracket carriedby the casing, and a lever pivoted to the bracket and carrying the valve, said lever being operatively connected to `said element to provide valve movement upon element reciprocation.

15. The combination with a supply tank, and a vacuum system for withdrawing the tank contents for delivery to the point of use, said system including a reservoir for the contents withdrawn and also havingr an inlet within the tank to receive the contents, of independent connections between the tank and reservoir, and means operative at will for closing said connections when the system is made active in the withdrawal operation and for opening said connections when the system is rendered inactive, whereby reservoir contents will be returned to the tank. t j

16. The combination with a supply tank, and a vacuum system for withdrawing the tank contents Jfor delivery to the point of use, said system including a reservoir for the contents withdrawn and also having an inlet within the tank to receive the contents, oi' drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank, and means for concurrently controlling said system inlet and the drainage connections to open one and close the other. j

17.,The combination with a supply tank, and a vacuum system for withdrawingthe tank contents for delivery to the point of use, said system including a reservoir, for the contents withdrawn and also having an inlet within the tank to receive the contents, of drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank, and mea-ns for concurrently controlling saidsystem inlet and the drainage connections, said means being operative to render the drainage operations 1nactive when said inlet is open.

18. In safety devices for tanks wherein the withdrawn-lof contents is provided by vacuum action and wherein the withdrawal contents are delivered to a reservoir en route to the point oi use, a supply tank having an outlet in communication with said reservoir, independent drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank, and means within the tank for. concurrently controlling the activity oi said outlet and the connections.

19. In safety devices for tanks wherein the withdrawal of contents is provided by `vacuum action and wherein the withdrawn cont-ents are delivered to a reservoir en route to the point ol use, a supply tank having an outlet for the tank contents positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank positioned to deliver the drainage through a drainage outlet adjacent the top of the tank, and means within the tank for concurrently controlling said outlets to maintain one outlet closed when the other is open.

20. In` sat'ety devices for tanks wherein the withdrawal of contents is provided by vacuum action and wherein the withdrawn contents are delivered to a reservoir en route to the point ot use, a supply tank having an outlet for the tank contents positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank positioned to deliver the drainage through a drainage outlet adjacent the top of` the tank, and means within the tank for concurrently controlling said outlets to maintain one outlet closed when the other is open, said means including a valve for each outlet, a reciprocating element within the tank, and mechanism for operatively connecting said valves to said element.

21.111 safety devices ior tanks wherein the withdrawal of contents is provided by vacuum action and wherein the withdrawn contents are delivered to a reservoir en route to the oint of use, a. su o l tank having an` lp .Y n

outlet or the tank contents positioned adj acent the bottom oit the tank, drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank positioned to deliver the drainage through a drainage outlet adjacent the top of the tank,

, and means within the tank for concurrently controlling said outlets to maintain one outlet closed when the other is open, said means including ajvalve for each outlet, a reciprocating element` within the tank, and mechanisni for operatively connecting said valves to said element, said mechanism beingoperative to unseat one valve concurrently with movement ot' the other valve to its seat.

79 In safety devices for tanks wherein `the,withdrawal of contents `is provided by vacuiim action and wherein the withdrawn contents are delivered to a reservoir en route to the point of use, a supply tank having an outlet for the tank contents positioned ad jacent the bottom of the tank, drainage connections between the, reservoir and the tank positioned to deliver the drainage through a drainage outlet adjacent the top of the tank, and means within the tank for concurrently controliing said outlets to maintain ,one outlet'closed when the other is open, said means including a reciprocating eleyment within the tank and having` a stem, a

valve for each outlet, and mechanisms opzso eratively connecting each valve with the iey pivoted lever adapted to move the valve in stem, one of said mechanisms including,` a

a direction opposite the direction ot move- ,ment of the element.

23. In safety devices for tanks wherein the withdrawal of contents is provided b v vacuum action and wherein the withdrawn contents are .delivered to a reservoir en route to the point of use, a supply tank lia-ving an outlet for the tank contents positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank, drainage connections between the reservoir and the tank spositioned to deliver the drainage through la Vdrainage outlet adjacent the top of the tank, and means within the tank for concur- .rently controlling said outlets to maintain one outlet closed when the other is open, said means including a reciprocating element within the tank and having a stem, a valve for each outlet, and mechanisms operatively connecting each valve with the stem, said mechanisms,includingl a pair of operating levers mounted relatively to the stein to yprovide movement of one valve in a direction opposite that of the other.

24e. In safety devices for tanks wherein Athe withdrawalv of contents is provided by vacuum action and wherein the withdrawn contents are delivered to a reservoir @n route lto the point of use, a supply tank having a vfilling opening,- and an outlet in communication with said reservoir, drainage connections between the reservoir and tank, a removable closure for Vsaid `filling opening, and `means within the tank for locking said clolvacuum action and wherein the withdrawn `contents are delivered to a reservoir cn route yto the point of use, a supply tank havinga yfilling opening and an outlet in communica.-

rtionwith said reservoir, drainage connections between the reservoir and tank, a removable closure for said filling opening, and means Within the tank for locking' said closure against opening movement and concurrently. closing said outlet and opening said drainage connections, said means including a reciprocatingY element movable in one direction to provide such concurrent activity.

2G. ln safety devices tor tanks wherein thc withdrawal of contents is provided by vacuum action and wherein the withdrawn contents are delivered to a reservoir en roi/fc to the point of use, a supply tank having;I a filling' opening and an outlet in communication with said reservoir, drainage eonneetions between the reservoir and tank, a reinoif'able closure for said iilling opening, and means within the tank -for loi-kino' said clo- V sure against opening` movement and concurtions between the reservoir and tank, a removable closure for said fillingopening,y and means within the tank for locking said closure against opening` movement and concurrently closing said outlet and opening said drainage connections, said means including a reciprocating` element movable in one direction to provide such concurrent activity, and control mechanism rendered active by said movement to retain suoli activity, said mechanism including a releasing` struci'iure operative when said element is in such position.

Q8. In safety devices for tanks wherein the withdrawal of contents is provided by vacuum action and whereby the withdrawn contents are delivered to a reservoir en rou/z to the point ot use, a supphtank havin;Y filling' and drainage openings und an outlet in communication with said reservoir. drainage connections between the tank and said WILLIAM G. (lAlRUTH.

Y my hand. 

